Our services
Our services include:
- mental health and risk assessments
- mental health and forensic treatment
- providing court ordered reports.
We work with you and your mental health or youth justice team to figure out the best way to help. We may also see you at court.
Supporting young people working with mental health teams
Your mental health treating team will ask you to see us if they're worried that your behaviour is getting you into trouble or is against the law. They may also be worried that you could hurt someone.
The sort of behaviours that might be a problem are:
- being violent towards people or animals
- sexually harmful behaviour
- lighting fires.
We'll only talk to you if you want us to. We may also want to talk to people who know you well, such as your parents, carers and teachers. We'll only do this with your permission.
We won't share your personal information with anyone else without your permission unless we're worried about your safety or the safety of others. If we need to do this, we'll talk to you first.
Using our service
If you'd like more information, you can talk to your mental health support worker.
Supporting young people at court or in watchhouses
Our mental health workers provide support to young people in court who are struggling with their feelings and behaviour.
How we can help
We can help if you're aged between 10 and 18 and feeling confused, worried, stressed, upset or hopeless.
You may feel like you can't control how you act or feel, and this may have led to your court appearance.
We'll talk to you about how you're feeling and what's worrying you. We can also put you in touch with the right services, such as counselling, a GP or other mental health services that can support you after court.
We may be able to give you mental health treatment if you’re working with youth justice services or are in a detention centre.
We can talk to you if you find it hard to understand what’s happening in court.
We can't give you legal advice.
Your privacy
The information you give us is confidential. Sometimes we need to share important information about you with the magistrate or your lawyer. If we need to do this, we'll talk to you first. We won't share your information with your parents or carer unless you agree, or we're worried about your safety or the safety of others.
Using our service
If you see us in court, you can come and talk to us. You don't need an appointment.
You can also ask your lawyer, youth justice services or court staff for more information.
Supporting young people in detention centres or working with Youth Justice Services
Our mental health workers are in the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre (BYDC) and West Moreton Youth Detention Centre (WMYDC), and in Youth Justice Service Centre.
We work with young people in detention or who are with youth justice services and struggling with their feelings, behaviour and drug use. We can continue to help young people at youth justice services when they’re released from BYDC or WMYDC.
How we can help
Our mental health workers can:
- see if there are treatments to help you feel better or help you to quit drugs
- help you access therapies and programs, such as art or music therapy, rock and water program or yoga
- connect you with other community services that might help with your mental health and drugs and alcohol when you go home
- work with your case workers, family and other services to make sure you have the right support.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support
We provide culturally sensitive treatment and practical support to young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This includes helping them access mental health and drug and alcohol services when they leave detention.
Using our service
You can use our service in detention or when you’re working with Youth Justice Services at any other time while you're there.
You can be referred by:
- nursing staff
- detention case workers
- youth justice officers
- other child and youth mental health services.
Contact us
Phone: 07 3310 9444
Email: forensicCYMHS@health.qld.gov.au
We're open Monday to Friday between 8 am and 4:30 pm.